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Carlisle County, Kentucky

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
101st of 120highest risk in Kentucky
$6Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Carlisle County, Kentucky has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 81% of US counties. It ranks 101st of 120 counties in Kentucky. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and drought. FEMA estimates about $6.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,260 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 9 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Carlisle County

$2.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$877,011 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Drought

Moderate
$479,612 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeLow86.2
$3M
Inland floodingVery Low7.3
$877K
DroughtModerate70.9
$480K
TornadoLow30.5
$459K
Ice stormHigh83.1
$455K
Cold waveLow34.5
$452K
Strong windLow37.7
$335K
Heat waveLow40.0
$201K
LightningVery Low15.0
$45K
HailVery Low14.4
$42K
Winter weatherLow30.5
$26K
HurricaneVery Low24.6
$8K
WildfireVery Low3.3
$989
LandslideVery Low40.3
$586

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Carlisle County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm15
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Severe Ice Storm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 23, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 3, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Feb 24, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and LandslidesEmergency
Jul 23, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 17, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 26, 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Show all 25
May 4, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 2010Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 29, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Oct 9, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Feb 21, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storm and Record SnowMajor disaster
Jun 3, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 10, 2000Tornadoes, Severe Storms, Torrential Rains, and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 4, 1997Severe Storm, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Feb 24, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kentucky also had 4 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1967

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 215 storm reports in Carlisle County since 1967, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $6.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on April 23, 2011 near Bardwell.

6tornadoes
41hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
95damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 23, 2011EF2Bardwell2 / 0
Oct 31, 2013EF1Cunningham0 / 0
Mar 14, 2019EF1Cunningham0 / 0
Jun 23, 2019EF1Bardwell0 / 0
Jun 23, 2019EF1Magee Spgs0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 23, 2011TornadoBardwell$2M
Feb 16, 2025FloodColumbus$950K
Jun 11, 1994Hail–$550K
Jul 19, 2023Flash FloodArlington$500K
Jan 3, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$400K
May 1, 2011FloodWinnford$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carlisle County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 60 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Carlisle County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (9 policies)
3.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$15,328paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $12,820 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Carlisle County

$120,400median home value (Kentucky $205,600, US $332,700)
1979median year homes were built (Kentucky 1982, US 1980)
51%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
19.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 2,307 housing units.

Compare in Kentucky

All 120 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Fayette CountyModerateInland flooding
Kenton CountyLowInland flooding
Boone CountyLowInland flooding
Warren CountyModerateInland flooding
Hardin CountyLowInland flooding
Daviess CountyModerateInland flooding
Campbell CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
McCracken CountyModerate21
Graves CountyModerate20
Mississippi County, MOLow23
Ballard CountyVery Low26
Hickman CountyVery Low26

Common questions about Carlisle County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carlisle County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Carlisle County, about $2.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $877,011.

How many federal disasters has Carlisle County had?

Carlisle County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Carlisle County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 101st highest of 120 in Kentucky. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Carlisle County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Carlisle County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Carlisle County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Carlisle County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on April 23, 2011 near Bardwell. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 67 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Carlisle County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Carlisle County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 60 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.